Written Answers Friday 29 January 2010

Scottish Executive

Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the use of local authority-owned allotments is restricted to horticultural purposes and the production of meat and eggs for human consumption.

John Swinney: Section 19 of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1922 defines an "allotment garden" as an area not exceeding 40 poles which is wholly or mainly cultivated by the occupier for the production of vegetable crops for consumption by himself or his family. Section 6 of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892 provides that a local authority may make regulations for the letting of allotments (including the conditions under which allotments are to be cultivated). Section 7 of the act makes provision for the use of allotments (in relation to their size and what may be erected on them).

Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a local authority is required to terminate the tenancy of an allotment holder who does not cultivate his or her allotment and does not use it for horticultural purposes or the production of meat and eggs for human consumption.

John Swinney: Section 6 of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892 provides that a local authority may make regulations for the letting of allotments, including the conditions under which allotments are to be cultivated. Section 1 of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1922 provides that if a local authority has made regulations which include conditions under which allotments are to be cultivated, and this is breached by the tenant, the landlord is entitled to terminate the lease.

Blood Donors

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29603 by John Swinney on 11 December 2009, whether staff continue to be paid while attending the mobile blood transfusion units visiting Scottish Government buildings during working hours.

John Swinney: Scottish Government staff are afforded opportunities to donate blood during working hours. In addition Scottish Government staff continue to be paid whilst donating blood at the mobile blood transfusion units visiting the Scottish Government buildings.

Bridges

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has identified what compulsory purchase orders will be required prior to the construction of the replacement Inveramsay Bridge.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30010 on  11 January 2010 . All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Bridges

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has carried out on the need for road realignment associated with the construction of the replacement Inveramsay Bridge.

Stewart Stevenson: All transport projects must pass through a series of statutory and design stages before they can proceed to the delivery stage.

  Consultation on a preferred road realignment for the replacement Inveramsay Bridge will therefore take place after the current work on costed options.

Bridges

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) the Highland Council, (b) the Highland and Islands Transport Partnership in Scotland, (c) Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and (d) Transport Scotland regarding the introduction of a ferry service between North and South Kessock during the resurfacing of the Kessock Bridge.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland and Scotland TranServ, the Trunk Road Operating Company, that is taking forward the works, are consulting a range of stakeholders about the proposed resurfacing works and traffic reduction measures, including the possibility of operating a ferry service. Two workshops and several discussions have taken place with the Highland Council, several meetings have been held with HITRANS and a discussion with a local ferry operator.

  David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimated (a) start and (b) completion date is of the resurfacing of the Kessock Bridge.

Stewart Stevenson: The current earliest start date for the resurfacing works is March 2011, with an anticipated contract period of between five and six months.

Concessionary Travel

Charlie Gordon (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many holders of entitlement cards for local concessionary travel schemes who were in receipt of the lower rate of disability living allowance were admitted initially to the free bus travel scheme when it commenced.

Stewart Stevenson: During April 2006, when the National Concessionary Travel scheme started, approximately 820,000 existing local concessionary scheme cardholders "passported" into the Scotland-wide scheme without undergoing a formal re-assessment of their entitlement. This included people aged 60 and over and those eligible on the grounds of disability.

  The exact number of those people specifically in receipt of lower rate disability living allowance at that time was not made available.

Constitution

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the production costs were of its Scotland’s Constitutional Timeline video.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of its multimedia unit’s budget was spent on the Scotland’s Constitutional Timeline video.

Bruce Crawford: Costs incurred by the multimedia unit in the production of Scotland’s Constitutional Timeline video were £112.46 (0.35% of the unit’s budget). Further costs of £896.95 were met by the National Conversation team.

Drug Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many recorded convictions there were for drug Trafficking in 2008-09, broken down by sheriff court.

Fergus Ewing: The information requested for 2008-09 will be available on 9 March 2010 (when the National Statistics Bulletin Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts, 2008-09 will be published). Details of forthcoming statistical publications on crime and justice are available on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Search/Forthcoming.

Education

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the Determined to Succeed programme and whether it will continue funding when the present funding arrangements come to an end.

Keith Brown: Determined to Succeed is now in a second phase as a result of policy decisions based on a formal review of Phase 1 in July 2008. The findings resulted in a continuation of the programme based on the success identified in formal assessment and evaluation.

  The main external monitoring processes of Determined to Succeed (the government’s Enterprise in Education strategy) are through an annual reporting cycle arrangement for local authorities linked directly to ring-fenced funding commitments and plans. Assessment and evaluation of the strategy is also supplemented through local authority visits and discussions led by Senior Advisers in the National Determined to Succeed team. This consists of standardised reporting and a collation of trends, high points and areas for development in a collated analysis of local authority progress reports. The focus of analysis is directly related to the Determined to Succeed Policy Expectations for Local Authority Delivery 2008-2011.

  Internally within local authorities quality improvement and quality assurance strategies will also formulate analysis based on progress towards relevant elements within the single outcome agreements. Enterprise in Education Quality Indicators developed by HMIe within the "How good is our school" suite of indictors, facilitate reflection on recognised standards and identification of future priorities. Furthermore, within a class or school department, use of the Determined to Succeed  Self-evaluation tool is a key resource for self-evaluation and future development planning.

  Other elements of the Determined to Succeed strategy are evaluated in formal research reporting including Work Experience and Virtual Work Experience where research reports have resulted in recommendations for improvement. Other elements of the programme including engagement of work related learning and partnership working with colleges and other training providers has been subject to focussed reports by HMIe such as Working Out and Improving Enterprise in Education.

  It is well recognised that the Determined to Succeed strategy has been a success in implementing enterprise education within the curriculum in all schools and education settings.

  Scottish Government has committed funding to the Determined to Succeed strategy until March 2011. This commitment was based on the intent to embed Determined to Succeed within Curriculum for Excellence. 

  Local authorities, through their single outcome agreement arrangements, are currently committed to deliver on the policy expectations until March 2011.

  No decisions have been taken on funding arrangements beyond this date and any discussions on this will be in the context of decisions on future spending arrangements and outcome agreements with local authorities 

  Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many enterprise projects in schools are run using the co-operative business model.

Keith Brown: Figures supplied to the Scottish Government by the Co-operative Education Trust (CETS) show that approximately 150 schools across the 32 local authorities have run enterprise projects in schools using the co-operative business model.

Electricity

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions and instructions it has issued to the relevant contractors regarding the substation at Balblair as a result of the Beauly to Denny transmission project.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish ministers do not issue instructions to contractors on developments which are the subject of planning applications.

  The Scottish ministers’ letter granting conditional planning consent to the proposal can be accessed from the following link http://www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/Documents/qJ6139/J115724.pdf.

Emergency Services

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact of the 1% increase in employers’ national insurance contributions is on (a) police and (b) fire and rescue services throughout Scotland.

John Swinney: Employers’ National Insurance contributions are to increase by a total of 1% from 1 April 2011. The estimated additional costs for the police and fire services are £8.3 million for Police and £2.1 million for Fire and Rescue services.

Forth Crossing

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place since May 2007 between (a) Transport Scotland officials and (b) the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change and groups from South Queensferry regarding the Forth Replacement Crossing project.

Stewart Stevenson: The Forth Replacement Crossing Consultation and Engagement Report published in November 2009 explains the approach to consultation and engagement that was adopted by Transport Scotland, how this was implemented and how feedback received through the programme of consultation was considered in the development of the FRC scheme. Appendix B provides a record of all consultation meetings with community organisations, interested parties and the general public.

  The following table provides details of meetings held between Transport Scotland officials and groups from South Queensferry regarding the Forth Replacement Crossing Project.

  

Event
Topic/Purpose
Date


Queensferry & District CC
Presentation on the Forth Replacement Crossing Study
September 2007


Introductory briefing
April 2008


Project update
September 2008


Managed Crossing Strategy briefing
January 2009


Briefing on amendments to roads and junctions (with Queensferry Business Association)
March 2009


Landscaping and mitigation briefing (with Queensferry Business Association)
June 2009


Project update – noise, traffic, Ferrymuir amendments and forthcoming activity
November 2009


Port Edgar Marina
Introductory briefing
June 2008


Port Edgar Yacht Club
Project update
February 2009


Queensferry Ambition
Introductory briefing
April 2008


Queensferry Business Association 
Presentation on the Forth Replacement Crossing Study
September 2007


Introductory briefing 
April 2008


Project update
September 2008


Managed Crossing Strategy briefing
January 2009


Briefing on amendments to roads and junctions (with QDCC)
March 2009


Landscaping and mitigation briefing (with QDCC)
June 2009


Queensferry Vision
Introductory briefing
April 2008


Project update
September 2008


Clufflats Residents Representatives
Project update
September 2008


Managed Crossing Strategy briefing
January 2009


Clufflats Residents
Landscaping, mitigation and construction briefings
June 2009


Project update
November 2009


Dundas Home Farm Residents
Managed Crossing Strategy briefing
April 2009


Project update – landscaping and mitigation
July 2009


Project update – landscaping and mitigation 
October 2009


Echline Corner Consultative Alliance
Project update
October 2009


Project update
November 2009


Echline Residents
Landscaping, mitigation and construction briefings
June 2009


Project update
October 2009


Inchgarvie Residents 
Landscaping, mitigation and construction briefing
June 2009


Project update
December 2009


Linn Mill Residents Association 
Introductory briefing
April 2008


Project update
June 2008


Project update
September 2008


Managed Crossing Strategy briefing
January 2009


Landscaping and mitigation briefing
July 2009


Society Road Residents 
Landscaping, mitigation and construction briefing
June 2009


Project update
November 2009


Springfield Residents
Landscaping, mitigation and construction briefing
June 2009


Project update 
November 2009


Scoutstoun Park Residents Association 
Project update
November 2009



  A meeting was held on 28 October 2009 between Margaret Smith MSP, four of her constituents, the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change and Transport Scotland Officials.

  George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what listed buildings will be affected by the Forth Replacement Crossing project and what action is planned to (a) protect them or (b) lift their listed status.

Stewart Stevenson: The following listed buildings will be affected by the Forth Replacement Crossing project:

  St. Margaret’s Hope (including Gatelodge, Piers, Boundary Walls, Walled Garden to South and Arch); 

  Ferry Craig, South Queensferry; 

  Hopetoun House/Viewing Platform; 

  Dalmeny Church; 

  Listed buildings within Dalmeny Conservation Area; 

  Dundas Castle North Gate Lodge; 

  Dundas Mains Farm 6-18; 

  Echline Cottage; Echline Farmhouse; 

  Forth Road Bridge (beneficial impact); 

  Humbie Cottage and Farmhouse; 

  Inchgarvie House; 

  Newbigging Farm House; 

  Listed buildings within North Queensferry Conservation Area; 

  North Queensferry, Craigdhu; 

  North Queensferry, North Cliff House, Gate Piers, Gates and Railings, and

  Port Edgar Harbour Barracks Complex and Port Edgar West Pier.

  St Margaret’s Hope Arch it will be dismantled and relocated. Historic building recording will be undertaken at Port Edgar Barracks, St Margaret’s Hope and Inchgarvie House prior to construction, with monitoring carried out during the works to identify risks and permit the mitigation of potential impacts.

  In respect of other properties where there are indirect impacts (impacts on setting), the mitigation to be employed includes the integration of the alignment and earthworks with the surrounding topography, planting of mixed or scrub woodland and the planting of hedges and standard trees to reflect existing boundaries and/or provide screening.

  No properties will lose their listed building status as a consequence of the project.

Housing

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider water affordability in future as part of the Scottish House Condition Survey.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) collects data on the cost of water rates and household income. Therefore statistics on water affordability, for example the percentage of income spent on water rates, can be produced by Scottish Government SHCS staff if requested. There are no plans to remove these indicators from the SHCS in the future.

People with Learning Disabilities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27265 by Fiona Hyslop on 23 September 2009, when the task group on employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities will report.

Keith Brown: The Strategic Task Group on Supported Employment completed its work in October 2009. Scottish Government and COSLA are currently considering the findings and will be publishing a Supported Employment Framework for disabled people in early 2010. A copy of the framework will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50135).

Prison Service

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28085 by Kenny MacAskill on 27 October 2009, how many foreign nationals in Scottish prisons have (a) applied for prisoner transfer and (b) been recommended for deportation at the end of their sentence.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  There have been nine requests for repatriation from prisoners since April 2007. The Scottish Prisons Service does not routinely record the number of prisoners who have been recommended for deportation at the end of their sentence but notifies UKBA of all foreign nationals that enter our custody (irrespective of whether there is a recommendation for deportation). The notification of a recommendation for deportation is a matter for Scottish Court Service and UKBA.

Roads

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to expand the Kessock roundabout by an extra lane for park-and-ride buses and cars containing more than one passenger.

Stewart Stevenson: There are no plans to provide extra lanes at the Longman roundabout at the south end of the Kessock Bridge as part of the proposed resurfacing works on the bridge. Methods of providing bus priority at the roundabout are, however, currently being developed in relation to the works.

Scottish Development International

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the conclusions of the traffic capacity study carried out by Scotland Transerv on the A9 Longman roundabout to be published.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland recently received the report and this is currently being considered. It is expected to be published in March and a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50129).

  Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been provided to Scottish Development International in each year since its creation.

Jim Mather: The funding provided to Scottish Development International since its creation in 2001 is provided in the following table:

  

Year
Scottish Enterprise Grant-in-Aid
Scottish Government Direct Running Costs
Scottish Government Support for Business Gateway International Trade Managers
Totals


2001-02
£11,414,380
 
 
£11,414,380


2002-03
£10,962,667
 
£700,000
£11,662,667


2003-04
£11,699,275
 
£700,000
£12,399,275


2004-05
£9,442,026
£1,549,000
£700,000
£11,691,026


2005-06
£9,313,590
£1,592,150
£700,000
£11,605,740


2006-07
£9,859,599
£1,632,157
£700,000
£12,191,756


2007-08
£11,132,413
£1,596,379
£723,000
£13,451,792


2008-09
£20,749,516
£1,680,000
£723,000
£23,152,516


2009-10
£22,663,000
£1,700,000
£725,000
£25,088,000


Total
£117,236,466
£9,749,686
£5,671,000
£132,657,152



  Notes:

  The Scottish Government Direct Running Costs figures for 2001-02 until 2003-04 are not available. We would expect these figures to be in line with subsequent years.

  There was no Scottish Government support for Business Gateway International Trade Managers in 2001-02.

  The figure for Scottish Enterprise Grant-in-Aid allocation in 2009-10 was increased from £21.7 million to take account of currency fluctuations in SDI’s overseas offices.

  Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the performance of Scottish Development International is monitored.

Jim Mather: Scottish Development International’s performance is measured against two key targets. These are: numbers of planned jobs and high value jobs by inward investors and the number of Scottish companies assisted to internationalise.